Viktoriia Hubareva is a prominent Ukrainian environmental scientist and a key contributor to EcoRubric, an influential platform dedicated to addressing ecological issues and fostering sustainable solutions. Renowned for her commitment to wildlife conservation, Viktoriia has played a significant role in championing rewilding efforts and the preservation of endangered species across Ukraine.
Her work encompasses a range of projects aimed at protecting Ukrainian wildlife, including crucial initiatives to save endangered animals and advocate for the preservation of forests and nature reserves. One of Viktoriia’s notable focuses is the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, one of the world’s oldest nature reserves located in the Kherson region. Despite the challenges posed by ongoing conflict and occupation, she has been instrumental in mobilising volunteers and securing resources to ensure the continued care of the reserve’s diverse plant and animal species.
Viktoriia’s dedication extends beyond hands-on conservation. She is a fervent advocate for raising awareness about the impact of war on Ukraine’s natural heritage and promoting sustainable solutions to protect and restore these ecosystems. Her efforts highlight the critical importance of preserving the environment even amidst adversity, inspiring many within the environmental field and beyond.
In response to the relentless Russian bombardment and its catastrophic effects on Ukraine’s natural environment, could you please detail the legislative and environmental strategies that EcoRubric is advocating to combat ecocide and safeguard natural habitats?
If we talk purely about the environment, which is the main topic of EcoRubric, the war causes enormous damage to the environment at the level of all ecosystems, and Ukraine is the first country that began to legally record the consequences of hostilities on the territory during the war, not after its end. At the same time as fixing the consequences, Ukraine is developing methods for this, so we, as a state, are pioneers in this topic. I believe that the task of the media space is to contribute to the fixation of the consequences and to create evidence of ecocide in the form of materials that we publish. We collect eyewitness accounts, take photos and videos and publish them. And this has a positive effect. Publication in the media under the legislation of Ukraine may be grounds for opening criminal cases. And we already have precedents when, on the basis of our articles, criminal proceedings were opened for crimes against the environment. Including where the violator is the army of the Russian Federation.
In addition, we continue to conduct educational and explanatory work. All materials are published in the format of solution journalism, so EcoRubric teaches readers about various things, such as, for example, proper sorting of waste, caring for animals and ecosystems in general, practical and legal ways to protect the environment.
“Ukraine is the first country that began to legally record the consequences of hostilities on the territory during the war, not after its end. At the same time as fixing the consequences, Ukraine is developing methods for this, so we, as a state, are pioneers in this topic.”
Could you elaborate on EcoRubric’s methods of collaboration with environmental experts, activists, and organisations within Ukraine to address current ecological challenges?
In Ukraine, there are many organizations that are engaged in the protection of the environment on various challenges, where not just environmental activists, but scientists and lawyers are involved. Personally, as a journalist, I am constantly in contact with specialists of several organizations that are involved in animal protection, waste disposal, preservation of natural ecosystems, and the creation of nature reserves and parks. Currently, most of them are also involved in recording the crimes of the Russian Federation against the environment of Ukraine. They not only provide comments for materials, but also often indicate which topics should be paid attention to, or help with friendly advice. It is they who help to understand complex analytics, decipher satellite images, and always kindly explain the most difficult scientific terms. Many scientists have already developed good friendships and it is important to note that they do a large part of the work for EcoRubric.
In addition, we often contact the state authorities involved in the management of environmental protection and the objects of the nature reserve fund.
What specific obstacles has EcoRubric encountered while reporting on environmental issues amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine?
Our work, of course, is hindered by hostilities, constant shelling and threats from Russia. Even in those border areas, where no active hostilities are taking place, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are a constant threat. We know of cases when these groups shot groups of hunters and workers of national parks located in the border areas.
In addition, it is important to note that the specificity of my work is a mandatory visit to nature conservation areas, but some of them are currently used by the military, so entry there is prohibited even for journalists. For example, for my project, which has already started to be published on EcoRubric with the support of UNESCO, entitled “UNESCO Biosphere Reserves during the war”, I spent about a week to agree on the bureaucratic issues related to obtaining permits to stay in the territories. These are border areas, which are currently closed to visitors and partially open to journalists.
On the other hand, the possibility of getting there remains, so we can show readers what these areas look like now.
Journalists can also use aerial photography with drones to a very limited extent, which, of course, is not critical, but it deprives us of the opportunity to look at the territories on a large scale, and the readers – to see impressive pictures.
How might international conservation NGOs best partner with Ukrainian organisations like EcoRubric to effectively protect and restore wildlife during and after the conflict?
We are always open to new cooperation. International NGOs may provide us with analytical information they collect. These are, again, satellite images that help us identify fires, changes in landscapes due to hostilities, record shallowing of rivers, etc. Some international organisations for the protection of the environment come to Ukraine to take samples, as was the case after the Russian terrorist attack – the maintenance of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam. They took samples of water contaminated by the disaster and shared the results with us.
Also, after the end of hostilities and deoccupation, Ukraine will need programmes for rewilding territories, assistance in demining, creation of scenarios for the restoration of territories. And here it is worth talking not only about support with information, but also personnel support, as well as financial support. The media in this case can take on the role of someone who knows about the needs of one side and the capabilities of the other and combine them. People often write to us looking for solutions to their problems, and we guide them, help with advice and contacts of those who can help, so why not take it to the international level?
“After the end of hostilities and deoccupation, Ukraine will need programmes for rewilding territories, assistance in demining, creation of scenarios for the restoration of territories.”
What is EcoRubric’s perspective on the role of renewable energy projects in promoting Ukraine’s energy independence and contributing to wildlife conservation efforts?
The topic of green energy is quite complex. On the one hand, Ukraine strives to achieve climate neutrality and abandon fossil fuel sources. On the other hand, all this requires attracting new resources, and in this we hope for the help of international partners and the reparations we receive from Russia after the Victory.
Along with this, there are many nuances. For example, I am confused about the mining of lithium needed for the lithium-ion batteries used for energy storage. There is no question of any life in lithium mining areas, as these areas become uninhabitable. Also, there is no wind map in Ukraine, which is necessary for the construction of wind power plants, and the territories allocated for solar and wind plants are not investigated for the presence of rare or endangered species of plants, insects and animals. Therefore, I am cautious about such projects, talking about them in articles. However, I am answering these questions while I am planning an interview with one of the experts who will be able to clarify these processes in more detail, so the answers to these questions may soon appear on EcoRubric.
For now, we are focused on green building, which will implement energy efficiency principles that will allow us to use less fuel to heat homes and use less environmentally hazardous resources such as concrete. EcoRubric also talks about pilot restoration projects that will help save the environment, such as the reuse of building materials.
Your focus on a digital cleanup initiative for reducing carbon footprints and combatting global warming is truly groundbreaking. How can these initiatives be scaled up to have a broader national impact in Ukraine?
The digital cleanup movement in Ukraine is actively supported by the NGO Lets do it Ukraine. They conduct information campaigns and every year involve participants in the international digital cleaning action “Digital Cleanup”, which takes place in the spring. EcoRubric helps to tailor this information, because we are an information partner of NGO Lets do it Ukraine.
Regarding the utilisation of demolition waste in Kharkiv, what wider environmental and economic advantages does EcoRubric anticipate from implementing circular economy principles in Ukraine’s rebuilding process?
Of course, we would like such pilot projects to become our normality. As far as I know, construction materials have been reused in Europe for a long time, which cannot be said about Ukraine. Our landfills are littered with construction debris, and with the onset of full-scale war, we also have a lot of debris left behind after Russian missiles destroy our infrastructure.
We are working to tell about the positive experience of waste processing, and I am glad that even you know about a similar project in Kharkiv. In this case, it is also important to reach out to the authorities so that regulations are implemented at the legislative level, which oblige the reuse of construction waste.
Following the Kakhovka disaster, what primary actions are being taken for ecological restoration, and how can these efforts be supported internationally?
This is my favourite question, because we spend a lot of time on this topic and try to cover it as widely as possible.
Currently, we cannot take any active reconstruction or protection actions on the territory of the former Kakhov reservoir, because its left bank is still occupied, and the right bank is constantly under fire from the Russians. While we have time until the end of hostilities in these territories, there are active disputes between Ukrhydroenergo (a company that manages hydroelectric power plants in Ukraine), local authorities, and environmental human rights organisations.
In short, there are three options for the further development of events.
The first is to leave everything as it is. Now the territory is actively overgrown with vegetation, and this is already a restoration. We don’t need to do anything to restore nature there – it will do everything by itself. In this case, it is possible to expand the national natural and cultural parks located on the territory of the former reservoir, because the area that was flooded 70 years ago was a place of Cossack settlement in ancient times. Many historical monuments have been preserved there.
The second option is to build the same hydroelectric plant as it was before the Russian terrorist attack. This will lead to the re-flooding of the territory of the former reservoir, and it can be called a new ecological disaster. This option is the most acceptable for the authorities and Ukrhydroenergo, they have even already decided on reconstruction. This decision is currently contested by an association of 14 environmental NGOs called “Kakhovska Platform” as too hasty, inappropriate and harmful for new, already formed ecosystems.
Finally, the third option, the most compromising. It involves the construction of a cascade of reservoirs. In this case, the new project will be gentler on ecosystems and stabilise Ukraine’s energy system.
The role of EcoRubric in this case is to consider the positions of all parties and provide an objective assessment.
“We don’t need to do anything to restore nature there – it will do everything by itself.”
Moving on now to the Ukraine Green Recovery Conference in Vilnius that you attended last November, could you please share with us the most impactful insights or conclusions that EcoRubric found most compelling?
Ukraine needs ‘green’ recovery and reconstruction, here’s why: ‘Green’ buildings and infrastructure are an investment in an ecological and sustainable future. In Longrid, based on the results of the conference, we revealed how such facilities help improve energy efficiency (reduce heating costs, use of electricity and water), ensure the durability and environmental friendliness of buildings by using eco-materials, and improve the well-being and health of the people living in them.
How does EcoRubric perceive the European Union’s support, both financial and technical, in shaping Ukraine’s ecological reconstruction efforts?
We are ready to be accepted into the “family” of the European Union, but we need to adhere to European standards in various areas, including environmental ones. We see what serious support the EU provides us both at the political level and at the level of funding. As for “green” reconstruction, the EU offers additional allocation of funds, as well as direct assistance in this area from European countries that have had similar experience and are ready to contribute to the most effective ecological reconstruction of Ukraine.
We appreciate both help in the implementation of reforms, informational and advisory support, and help in the implementation of new approaches and technologies.
